Thursday, July 12, 2012

A reader sends along the above photo, taken on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B today. The reader has seen the man, who is likely homeless, and the dogs around the neighborhood and in other parts of the city.

The reader is concerned about the man's well-being... as well as worried about the dogs.

"[The dogs] look like they are eating, but the smaller one's coat is a knotted, tangled mess. And as dog people know, it's actually physically uncomfortable for a dog with longer hair to be covered with all of these knots," the reader said.

The reader saw the man earlier today with the dogs on Avenue B. "The little one is in dire need of a shave, and it's hot out, and he doesn't have any water for them. As I passed on his left side, he started calling me a motherfucker. Then he started yelling at the poor dogs who hadn't done anything wrong. Obviously, this man is mentally disturbed and not capable of caring for himself let alone these poor animals, who I suspect might have been someone's pets at one time."

The reader called ASPCA to see if anything can be done. However, they are too overwhelmed with calls now to respond to this situation given that the reader didn't see any outright physical abuse.

An ASPCA rep told the reader to call 911 the next time the dogs appear to be "in a bad situation."

Per the reader: "I feel so helpless. I am wondering if there might be an independent animal rescue group who could come in and take a look at these dogs and try to help them."

To the anonymous poster who asked if anyone is concerned about the man: I feel for anyone who is homeless, but if you have had any experience with the population, you know how difficult it is to get them to accept help. A lot of people with mental disorders refuse help, and they can only be held at a facility so long. So while my heart goes out to this man, I realistically know that he can't be forced into treatment if he doesn't want it. I actually worked closely with a neighbor of mine--who wasn't homeless but had mental issues--trying to get him help. But we'd get him into the hospital for a few days, and he would check himself out. Again, the city couldn't keep him against his will and force him to accept treatment. Given that reality, I have to focus my concern on the dogs who I suspect would be happy to get a good bath and be fed and given water regularly.

Maybe the reader could have a male friend, boyfriend, husband approach him with food and water for him and the dogs. Or leave some bottles of cold water near where he stays. I used to live in the city and that's what I did. I say get a male friend because he yelled at the reader and sounds troubling.

Good Luck to you! Thank you for caring.

PS : I worked at the humane society and it's a crazy place to get through to by phone. Better to show up there (59th & 2nd) or ask to speak with someone in adoptions. Adoptions have a lot of volunteers and people who help the homeless as well.

Thanks so much for the advice. The man has a bad temper and isn't approachable at all on a human level, which is so sad, so I think it would be dangerous for even a man to approach him. He is also constantly on the move. I am going to keep an eye out for him again and then I'll make a call to 911, stay on the scene and see how it plays out. I just don't know when I will see him again. Maybe someone else will spot him in the neighborhood. It is awful when pets and children have to be in these situations. They are all too common, and we feel so helpless.

This reminds me of how I feel when I see the way the Crusties treat their animals. They both physically and verbally abuse their dogs frequently.There is just nothing you can say to them and I am sure that the NYPD is not interested.

I think "the reader" in this story is making a lot of judgments and presumptions about the man and his ability to care for the dogs. There is no reason to lock this man up- how horrible that people have even suggested that. I've seen tons of homeless people who are kept sane by their pets, and these are actually some of the happiest pets I have seen as well. How fair is it to have a big dog in the city and lock it in a CAGE in your tiny apartment while you're at work all day?

Often these dogs have more free reign, more time with other dogs, more time outside and at parks where they should be than your average well-dressed Nine to Fiver's neglected pets. How do you know you didn't catch him at a bad moment, and that he doesn't feed them better than he feeds himself? This is really worthy of being the cover story in the site right now? Really?

A. No one is saying to lock this man up. It might be nice if someone could bathe and groom the dogs regularly so they need not run around with thick matted hair - especially in this terribly hot weather.

B. Your thoughts on how animals are kept as pets in apartments has little to do with this blog post. If the dogs did not appear to be in poor shape no one would bat an eye, but they do, and again, it'd be nice if they could be groomed, particularly by the caretaker of said dogs. Like they say, even poor folk have to give charity.

C. "This is really worthy of being the cover story in the site right now? Really?" This isn't a "site" (or "website" is what I gather you're getting at) - it's a "blog" and there's a huge difference between the two. And while I'm not going to go any further into how a blog works, to answer your question, yes, this story is worthy of being on this blog because it's in our community.

I agree about the crusties. Those kids can't care for themselves let alone pets. To the previous reader who says he or she has seen homeless people with pets that are taken care of, I agree. I have also seen homeless people who are more together and seem able to care for their pets at least as well as you can care for a pet when you are on the street. But it isn't an ideal situation for any animal. It's not even ideal for these poor people who don't have anywhere to sleep, enough food to eat or proper medical care. Don't romanticize life on the streets. It is harsh for people and pets.

if you want to get the police involved just tell them the guy is from Occupy Wall Street and is organizing a protest - the tac squad will be there in 5 minutes. The machine gun police have been on the 6 trains in the mornings this week, saw the TSA searching people at GRand Central last week...

If you see him and he seems in a calmer state of mind let him know about the Collide program http://www.collidenyc.org/p/about_1238.html at The Graffiti Church at 205 East 7th Street.

Their website says they hold a soup kitchen/drop-in session for homeless and their pets to get food, and veterinary care if needed, every Wednesday from 6 - 7pm. That's only a few steps from the SE corner of Tompkins Sq. Park, just go east on 7th Street.

I'm going to print up their info from their website and keep it in my pocket in case I see him.

My heart breaks for both him and his dogs. Compassion for animals and humans doesn't need to be an either/or. Clearly this guy is having a harder life than I, and I expect most of us, can begin to imagine. And his dogs aren't getting any better deal out of it. Let's figure out ways to help out rather than sit in blind judgement.

He was probably justified in calling the 'concerned' a mf. He is trying to take the best care possible for himself and the dogs, and is at least not letting them run rampant on the street. Why don't the so-called righteous do-gooders have some common sense and mind their own business. That would be the humaine thing to do. The homeless have rights too!

I see this man frequently with his two dogs - he is usually around 14th / 13th, ave A B C and the park. He asks for change in front of the post office on 14th street, but he is sometimes mean (most throw the change from a distance his way because of it).

People do bring him & the dogs bottles of water and some food occasionally when he's there - especially on the real hot days lately. I worry about the dogs on the hotter days but I've never seen him be mean to them. It would be wonderful to get them some care / small checkup or even simple grooming.

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